High glucose-induced apoptosis in human vascular endothelial cells is mediated through NF-kappaB and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase pathway and prevented by PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway

• Published in: Cellular signalling 2006-03, Vol.18 (3), p.391-399
• Main Authors: Ho, Feng Ming, Lin, Wan Wan, Chen, Bing Chang, Chao, Chien M, Yang, Chia-Ron, Lin, Lian Y, Lai, Chih Chang, Liu, Shing H, Liau, Chiau S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Androstadienes - pharmacology; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Caspases - genetics; Caspases - physiology; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cell Survival - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Chromones - pharmacology; Endothelial Cells - cytology; Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Endothelial Cells - physiology; Female; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Gene Expression Regulation - physiology; Glucose - pharmacology; Humans; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - genetics; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - physiology; Morpholines - pharmacology; Mutation; NF-kappa B - antagonists & inhibitors; NF-kappa B - genetics; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Nitric Oxide - pharmacology; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III - genetics; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III - physiology; Nitroarginine - pharmacology; Nitroprusside - pharmacology; Oligonucleotides, Antisense - pharmacology; Oncogene Protein v-akt - genetics; Oncogene Protein v-akt - physiology; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - genetics; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - physiology; Phosphorylation; Proline - analogs & derivatives; Proline - pharmacology; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Signal Transduction; Thiocarbamates - pharmacology; Umbilical Veins - cytology
• ISSN: 0898-6568

Our previous studies demonstrated that high glucose-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) is mediated by sequential activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and caspase, and prevented by exogenous nitric oxide (NO). In this study we further elucidated the roles of the transcriptional factor NF-kappaB, phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K), Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the apoptosis of HUVECs induced by high glucose. The results showed that high glucose-induced apoptosis was significantly enhanced by PI3K inhibitors (wortmannin and LY294002), NOS inhibitor (NG-nitro-arginine methyl ester) and eNOS antisense oligonucleotide. In contrast, apoptosis was markedly reduced by NF-kappaB inhibitor (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, PDTC), NF-kappaB antisense oligonucleotide, NO donor (sodium nitroprusside, SNP), and overexpression of Akt. The high glucose-induced NF-kappaB activation and transient Akt phosphorylation were prevented by the presence of vitamin C. Moreover, high glucose-induced increase in eNOS expression was attenuated by PI3K inhibitors and the negative mutant of PI3K. The activity of JNK induced by high glucose was suppressed by NF-kappaB-specific antisense oligonucleotide. Taken together our results demonstrated that high glucose-induced HUVECs apoptosis is through NF-kappaB-dependent JNK activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent Akt dephosphorylation. Activation of the ROS/PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway in early phase exerts protective effects against the induction of apoptosis by high glucose.